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Sir Thomas More Quotes

Better 'tis to be fortunate than wise!
— "The Words of Fortune to the People" (c.1504)




Men use, if they have an evil turn, to write it in marble; 
and whoso doth us a good turn, we write it in dust.
— History of King Richard III (c.1513-1518)




What you cannot turn to good, you must at least make as little bad as you can.
— Utopia, Bk. 1. (1516)



They have no lawyers among them, for they consider them as a sort of people whose profession it is to disguise matters.
— Utopia, Bk. 2. (1516)




All things appear incredible to us, as they differ more or less from our own manners.
— Utopia, Bk 2. (1516)




If any good thing shall go forward, something must be adventured.
— A Dialogue Concerning Heresies (1529)




A faint faith is better than a strong heresy.
— A Dialogue Concerning Heresies (1529)




A tale that fleeth through many mouths catcheth many feathers.
— A Dialogue Concerning Heresies (1529)




I do not care very much what men say of me, provided that God approves of me.
— A Letter to Erasmus, 1532.




We see that this man fareth as one that walked bare-foot upon a field full of thorns, that wotteth not where to tread.
— Confutation of Tyndales's Answer (1532)




He will bring forth for the plain proof his old three worshipful witnesses, which stand yet all unsworn, that is to wit: Some-say, and They-say, and Folk-say.
— Confutation of Tyndales's Answer (1532)




He spinneth that fine lie with flax, fetching it out of his own body, as the spider spinneth her cobweb.
— Confutation of Tyndales's Answer (1532)




I never saw fool yet that thought himself other than wise.
— A Dialogue of Comfort Against Tribulation (1534)




Many a man buyeth hell with so much pain, that he might have heaven with less than the one half.
— A Dialogue of Comfort Against Tribulation (1534)


He that biddeth other folk do well, and giveth evil example with the contrary deed himself, fareth even like a foolish weaver, that would weave a part with his one hand and unweave a part with his other.
— A Dialogue of Comfort Against Tribulation (1534)


I do nobody harm, I say none harm, I thinke none harm, but wish everybody good. And if this be not enough to keep a man alive, in good faith I long not to live.
— Letter to his daughter, Margaret, 1535.

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